Why is it important to identify and meet individual learner needs when teaching?

Why is it important to identify and meet individual learner needs when teaching?

Every teacher must believe and understand that all their learners ought to acquire equal hopes, education and future aspirations from their learning. On the other hand, the teacher must know that they will meet learners with different dynamics during their teaching career. The main difference is that some students will learn fast, and others will be slower. Again, they will teach learners that are challenged or disabled in some way. In the light of this, it is crucial that a teacher identify and meet the needs of every learner without discrimination. The following are 5 reasons why it is important to identify and meet individual learner needs when teaching.

1. Achieving Quality

In the classroom, there are children with behavioural, emotional, social or other challenges that may limit their learning abilities. Therefore, when the teacher identifies their weaknesses and applies measures to overcome them, their learners acquire education without any barriers. This ensures that the challenged learners do not feel left out or discriminated from the rest.

2. Developing Talents

The needs in the classroom are not always negative. Learners, especially young ones, are usually undergoing the process of understanding their skills. The teacher, however, is experienced enough to tell that a certain learner has a particular skill or talent. In this case, skills and talents become needs too because they require nurturing to develop. Therefore, once the teacher identifies them and provides the essential support to develop them, they help the learners to discover and grow them.

3. Creating Interest

Identifying and meeting individual learner needs boosts their morale and encourages them. In some cases, the learner does not gain much from mass instruction. As such, when the teacher provides individually prescribed instruction (IPI) it significantly helps many learners to understand and grasp educational concepts. This applies more to subjects such as mathematics and art. If a student feels supported by their tutor, they develop rather than lose interest in learning.

4. Planning Classroom Activities

Once the teacher is familiar with the personal needs of their learners, they can easily plan their day-to-day classroom activities, so they cater to all of them. For instance, the teacher will know how to plan the timetable for counselling, individual tutoring, group interactions and general supervision. In short, each activity targets the needs of specific students such that by the end of the day, every learner’s needs are fully met.

5. Organising the Classroom

The best way for a teacher to organise the classroom is by first identifying the characteristics of each learner. The learners that need more personalised instruction can sit closer to the teacher. If a student has visual difficulties, the teacher can sit him or her closer to the blackboard. They can also sit near a door or window where there is an abundance of light. In a nutshell, the needs of the learners should determine the availability of supplementary material, accessibility of equipment and supplies, as well as the seating arrangements.

Evidently, it is paramount that the teachers identify and meet individual learner needs when teaching. This is because it allows them to devote their energies beyond regular teaching into effective education that is supportive and considerate for each learner. In this way, the students are motivated, supported, empowered, and developed because optimum learning conditions are created.

About iQualify UK

iQualify UK is a UK registered organisation which was founded to provide the best in education through courses and qualifications for those previously excluded on grounds of finance or the need to work rather than study. We therefore offer quality products at an affordable price.